Trevion Williams is first Purdue basketball commitment in 2018 class

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Twitter post with which Trevion Williams announced his commitment to Purdue basketball checked all of the customary boxes.

Photo in a Boilermaker uniform from his unofficial visit last month? Check. Obligatory shot of Mackey Arena? Check.

Yet Williams wanted to make sure everyone knew not only where he is going, but where he has been. So the 6-8, 250-pound center also wrote out the story of how he left behind Chicago gun violence — which took the life of his uncle, Tyjuan Lewis — before his basketball breakthrough in suburban Detroit.

"Every time I step on the court, it's for him because I know he's watching, and I know he's cheering me on from above," Williams wrote.

Adversity overcome at a young age is one way Williams, who attends Henry Ford Academy, resembles the Boilermaker he most looks up to — Caleb Swanigan. There's also a physical resemblance. The beefy Williams already possesses a soft touch as he continues to work himself into shape.

Purdue sold Williams on the chance to follow in Swanigan's footsteps. Williams committed to Matt Painter on Thursday, choosing the Boilermakers over his other finalist, Xavier.

After years of recruitment, I've decided to further my academic and athletic career at West Lafayette, Indiana-future Boilermaker!!!#Purdue🚂 pic.twitter.com/naknvCAUv2

Williams is ranked 99th nationally on 24/7 Sports' composite rankings for the 2018 class. He said at one time he felt a lot of pressure around him to end up at nearby Michigan State. However, Purdue's continued pursuit through Williams' injury made an impact.

"As far as a school believing in me and putting me in position to go to the NBA, I felt Purdue was the best fit for me," Williams said.

Williams was born and raised in Chicago and first attended Mount Carmel High School. However, following his uncle's death in 2015, Williams moved to live with other family members in suburban Detroit.

According to mlive.com, Williams averaged 22 points and 25 rebounds as a junior for Henry Ford Academy. In the first game of the state tournament, he fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot. Recovery from the resulting surgery hampered the start of his summer performance.

Purdue offered Williams a scholarship in early May and made him one of its top summer targets. He said he considered committing prior to his unofficial visit last month.

"I wanted to be sure about everything and be comfortable," said Williams, who had only previously visited Purdue for a game. "I saw some things I didn't even really know ... getting to know the coaches more, even some of the players."

Along with Williams' commitment, Purdue will continue to pursue center Emmanuel Dowuona of Westwood Christian in Miami, Florida. Those players could be complimentary big men within the same class, with Williams possibly moving around the perimeter while Dowuona remains a back-to-the-basket option and rim protector.

Point guard is also a 2018 priority for the Boilermakers. The first of three July evaluation periods begins Wednesday with a cluster of events in Georgia and South Carolina.

Purdue projects to have as many as five scholarships to use for the 2018 class. With 7-2 center Isaac Haas and 6-8 forward Vincent Edwards set to graduate, Painter has sought a continued influx of size. Two other frontcourt players — 6-9 Jacquil Taylor and incoming 6-9 junior college transfer Eden Ewing — are entering their junior seasons.

Williams is flattered by the comparisons to Swanigan, but knows he's not that caliber of player yet. He said he wanted to seal up his recruitment early so he could move on to working on improving his physique and preparing for Big Ten Conference basketball.

"He's one of the players I look up to," Williams said of Swanigan. "They said if I come here I can make an instant impact. It's really cool to be compared to somebody so special."